Welcome to our Mental Disorders topic area. In this family of topic centers you will find information about various mental disorders including depression, generalized anxiety, panic, bipolar disorder, attention deficit and schizophrenia, to name but a few. Disorders of Childhood are grouped under the Disorders of Childhood topic category

There is always a question of whether a given disorder or issue would be better classified as a "mental" or a "med...More

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What are mental disorders?

In this family of topic centers you will find information concerning various mental disorders including depression, generalized anxiety, panic, bipolar disorder, attention deficit and schizophrenia, to name but a few.

There is always a question of whether a given disorder or issue would be better classified as a "mental" or a "medical-biological" disorder.

To some degree or another, there is no really firm distinction between mental and medical disorders.

Many so called 'mental' disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are now known to be primarily biologically based, while other 'medical' disorders have been shown to have a large 'psychological' component.

Therefore, many, including this site have decided to follow the lead set out by the authors of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the standard reference used by psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in classifying and describing mental disorders.

Health Tip: Mental Disorders Are Common

Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. Adults Has Mental Illness or Drug Problem

Half of Opioid Prescriptions Go to People With Mental Illness

Those with psychological conditions more likely to overdose or have other problems tied to painkillers. More...

SAMHSA: 9.8 Million U.S. Adults Have Serious Mental Illness

Nearly 10 million American adults have a serious mental illness, and a similar number have considered suicide during the past year, according to a new report published in the Behavioral Health Barometer-United States, 2016, which was released June 12 by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). More...

Nearly 10 Million U.S. Adults Suffer From Mental Illness

Mental Health Myths Abound in the U.S.

For instance, survey finds less than half can recognize anxiety. More...

Care Access Worsening for Adults With Psychological Distress

An estimated 8.3 million American adults -- about 3.4 percent of the U.S. population -- suffer from serious psychological distress, with barriers to care on the rise, according to research published online April 17 in Psychiatric Services. More...

Just 1 in 5 Mentally Ill Women Gets Cervical Cancer Screenings

Rates of the disease tend to be higher in this group, researcher says. More...

Anxious? Distressed? You're Not Alone

And about 1 in 10 Americans who need mental health care don't have the insurance coverage, study finds. More...

Past Psychiatric Disorders Do Not Raise Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Having a mental health disorder doesn't translate into a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life, according to a study published in European Psychiatry. More...

Climate Change May Cloud Americans' Mental Health: Report

Ketamine Beneficial for Certain Patients With Mood Disorders

Use of ketamine for treatment of mood disorders should include appropriate patient selection and consideration of potential risks of treatment, according to a consensus statement published online March 1 in JAMA Psychiatry. More...

Patients Reluctant to Comply With Drug-Only Psychiatric Treatment

Mental health patients are more likely to reject treatment if it involves only medication, according to a study published online March 6 in Psychotherapy. More...

For People With Mental Health Woes, Pets Can Be Invaluable

Health Tip: Thinking About Psychological Therapy?

Heart Rate, BP in Male Teens Tied to Later Risk for Psych Disorders

Young men with a resting heart rate and blood pressure that are elevated -- but still within normal range -- appear more likely to develop a wide range of mental illnesses later in their lives, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Psychiatry. More...

U.S. Psychiatric Patients Face Long Waits in ERs

1 in 5 emergency doctors reports waiting at least 2 days for a bed for someone who's mentally ill. More...

Internet Addiction May Be Red Flag for Other Mental Health Issues: Study

Over-reliance on the Web might be linked to depression, anxiety and impulsivity, researchers report. More...

Psychiatric Patients Face Longer Waits in ER

And they're more likely to be transferred without getting treatment, study finds. More...

U.S. Soldier in Custody Following Slaying of 5 Americans in Iraq

An American soldier has been charged with five specifications of murder and one of aggravated assault in Baghdad. More...